The Ministry of Defence has released a number of images of the British relief effort in Anguilla – this one shows an Officer from RFA Mounts Bay liaising on the beach with a member of the disaster relief organisation

A British Army Ultra-light airfield damage repair plant prepares to be loaded on to an aircraft bound for the Caribbean

Royal Navy ship Mounts Bay carrying 40 Royal Marines is already in the region and a second ship HMS Ocean is also being sent but is not expected to arrive for another two weeks.

A Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft has also been pictured at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, being loaded with aid before flying to the areas affected by Hurricane Irma.

Announcing a £32 million relief package, Prime Minister Theresa May said her “thoughts and prayers are with all those affected, particularly with the British nationals in our overseas territories.”

Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, said the government was doing everything it could in order to help those effected with international development secretary, Priti Patel, also announcing the deployment of three UK humanitarian experts and a British naval ship to the affected region.

The French and Dutch have also provided relief.

However a former UK representative to Anguilla has said the British response was “pathetic” and disgraceful” in comparison to other countries.

Dorothea Hodge told the Guardian: “It’s absolutely disgraceful that it has taken the whole day for Priti Patel to respond to the worst hurricane we have seen in a British territory since the 1920s.”

First British military plane to join the Hurricane Irma relief effort has taken off from RAF Brize Norton

She also added: "In comparison to the French president who has set up an emergency fund, an emergency hotline and a reconstruction fund her response [Priti Patel] after the storm has passed is absolutely pathetic."